I can only infer from this that the term "table" is meant to refer to the
plans being stopped or killed. Is that so? Because in Australian (and
probably British) use "to table" something means that the idea is raised or
opened, as in Parliament tables a Bill for debate or a motion is tabled at a
meeting (No, Marvin, not THAT sort of motion). In other words, the idea is
put on the (discussion) table for comment.

If the American use is exactly the opposite of its Australian use, I just
wonder how the difference came about. How is the term used in Britain and
Canada?

Brett, the mildly confused

I can't comment on British or Australian Parliamentary procedure, but in the
American version when a bill is "tabled" it's effectively dead.  It's
essentially a way of killing a bill without voting up or down on it -
instead it's just kept in permanent limbo.

Gautam

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